Mangalore, September 15: After massive floods hit Jammu and Kashmir, Naresh Nanda (41), was stuck in Srinagar has reached Chennai safely, thereby making his family and well-wishers relieved and happy.
Naresh, who works for HBD Financial Service, employed as regional product head (south); was stuck at the Lalith Group of Hotels in Srinagar due to the heavy floods since Thursday September 4th. His family even lost contact with him for some time and his wife Surekha made a desperate appeal through the media to help tracing her husband, after which she was able to contact him over the phone.
Speaking to the media over the phone, Naresh narrated his experience during the 10 days of his stay in the midst of severe flooding in Srinagar and said, “Authorities of the Lalith Group of Hotels did not allow us to go out due to intense flooding in the town. There were 70 people who were stuck in the hotel and we had no access to communication. We had no power, but the authorities managed to provide rice and daal to us.
“A few local VIPs asked the hotel authorities to send us away from the hotel and allow them to stay there instead. But the hotel authorities turned down their demand and instead supported us. We had to walk 6 km from the hotel to reach the Srinagar highway and from there the army escorted us till Srinagar airport”, he said.
His health deteriorated during the 10 days when he was stranded in the hotel, he ran out of his daily dose of tablets for diabetes as drug stores were closed and due to tension amid floods. His wife Surekha made all possible efforts to make authorities ensure his speedy return on health grounds.
“Due to severe floods, we had no access to communication. Shops and drug stores were also closed due to floods. Our company head also met the MD of Lalith Group of Hotels in Delhi and asked him to help us. Yesterday night, I reached Delhi and today I reached Chennai”, added Naresh who was quite relieved and revealed that he was looking forward to join with his family in Kankanady.
